Black Books

Season 1

TV-PG

Meet Bernard Black, a foul tempered and eccentric bookshop owner who loves his books but hates his customers. Manny is Bernard's long-suffering assistant and Fran is the owner of the gift shop next door to Black Books. Black Books explores Manny and Fran's efforts to ensure Bernard has some contact with the outside world and charts the comical consequences of their efforts.

6 Episodes

Cooking the Books
E1
Cooking the BooksBernard is struggling to cope with getting down to menial but essential tasks for his book shop, such as the accounts when a chance meeting with a customer, Manny, helps him out. Meanwhile, the owner of the shop next door, enlists the help of Bernard and his customers to find out exactly what an object from her shop is and in doing so misses an important appointment.
Manny's First Day
E2
Manny's First DayBernard wakes up to discover that he has a new employee for his book shop, who infuriatingly has great skill at selling books. While Bernard is reluctant to keep him on, Fran makes her feelings clear on the matter.
Grapes of Wrath
E3
Grapes of WrathBernard and Manny accept a house-sitting job to get away from their new cleaner. They also drink some wine.
The Blackout
E4
The BlackoutManny stays up watching 'The Sweeney' and is mistaken for a policeman after chasing a handbag snatcher. Fran and Bernard exchange stories about their previous day, Bernard recalling a disastrous dinner party with old friends who blanked him and Fran telling him about blanking her boyfriend after catching him with another woman.
The Big Lock-Out
E5
The Big Lock-OutFollowing a burglary Bernard buys a sophisticated alarm system which results in Manny getting locked inside the shop and Bernard stuck outside in the rain. Fran is no help as she took her phone off the hook to listen to the sexy man reading the shipping forecast.
He's Leaving Home
E6
He's Leaving HomeManny finally gets fed up with Bernard's constant abuse and demands on him so he leaves for a better life. However, he doesn't get far when he meets a man at King's Cross station who wants to make him a star. Meanwhile back at the shop Fran and Bernard are arguing more and more about Manny's departure.